Game apparatus.



No. 824,879. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906. E. H. MILLER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11,1905.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[Ill I 6 r 45 g Q 3 OI E J! Q U 13/ Q 14 13. 9 U A v I V W/T/VESsZ-ISZNVE/VTOR. a? F zzwmflflflazzw,

No. 824,879. PATENTED JULY 3,- 1906.

E. H. MILLER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.11,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UM-ran .sraras Parser caries.

EDWARD ii. MILLER. or INDIANAPOLIS, rainim...ASsrcavciR 'ro NATIONALSTRAW "BINDER AND MACHINE ($0.,- OF INDI LIS, INDIANA, A. CORPORATION OFINDIANA.

Alvaro GAME APPARATUS.

To a. whom it may concern: Be it known that I, EDWARD H. MILLER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the countyofMarion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification. 1 This invention relates to a game apparatus; and theobjector the invention consists in the production of an apparatus bywhich the game of base-ball can mechanically be played on a miniaturefield and still be governed by the same rules and regulations thatgovern the nationalgame. T

The object consists, further, in a game apparatus for playing base-ballin which all the parts are automatically operated, giving each player anequal opportunity of scoring the points and still retain thoseuncertainties that must accompany a game to invoke interest and zeal. I

l accomplish the objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of mygam apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top orplan view'of same. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal central sectional view of said game apparatus. Fig. 4 is anunder side plan view of said game apparatus. Fig. 5 1s a fragmentarydetail perspective view of the o crating-levers, the framework beingomitted Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the stirrups employed to formbearin s for certain parts of the mechanism.

n the drawings, 1 represents the base of the game apparatus, and 2denotes the field on which it is layed. The boundary of the field isdefined by. means of the rib 3, that slightly projects above the levelof the field 2 and is secured to the outer ed e of the base 1. The base1 is mounted on a s ight incline, so that the balls when pitched willreturn to a given point.

The base 1 of the game a paratus is providedwith an alley 4 at the si ewhich is separated from the field 2 by means of the partition 6. Theplayers place a ball 8 (see Fig. 1)

Specification of Letters Patent. I Application filed Decemberll, 1905.Serial No.291.284..

Patented J'ul S, 1906. i

. will deflect the course of the object ball 8, so

in the alley 4, which is to be pitched into the field 2.

head of the field. The ball The alley 4 guides the pitched ball againstthe circular portion of the rib 3 at the itched from the alley 4 iscalled the objectall and is eml plays that afiect t e batsman whilestandployed by the-players to automatically operl ing at the home basewhile attempting to tition-Walls 15 which ate the mechanism of the gameapparatus. The object-ball 8 (see Fig. 1)' after leaving the 5 5 alley 4hugs the rib 3 until it strikes the in a, that stands vertically in the.field- 2 an near enough to the rib 3 to revent the ball from. passingbetween it an said rib The pin a that to predetermine its course afterleaving said pin would be mere speculation. The

base of the apparatus 1 near its foot is provided with a plurality ofrows of pins 12, which are arranged in a staggered manner,. so that theobject-ball 8 after leaving the pin a. will most likely strike one ormore of them, and. thus be still further deflected from its;

original course before it reaches thepocket's at the foot of the base 1.It will be seen that. the course of the object-ball will be extremelyirregular before reaching the pockets andis intendedv to prevent anyundue advantages taken by a player'through manipulation.

The base 1 is divided at its foot by the par- 7 5 form pockets to re- 1ceive the spent object-balls. These pockets are named to indicate thepla s, and an .object-ball once pitched must e allowed to take its owncourse in traversing the field to reach the ocket's in order that anaccurate score may lie recorded. I

Any number of persons that can be equally divided can articipate in thegame. An umpire shouldhirst be selected to register the names of theopposing teams, to call the name of the players at their proper turn,and to kee the score. He must closely observe the ob ect-ball whenitched to prevent any interference therewith and to announce the resultas indicated by the name on the.

pocket into which the ball dro s. 'He should also recordthe balls andstri es against the la ers. For instance, should the objectball dropinto either of the pockets A or Q it would indicate a foul ball, butwere it to drop into the pockets B, D, G, K, or M it would credit thebatsman with a ball, which would'be a point in his favor, and if theball had dropped into either of the pock- 10o ets C, F, L, or O a strikewould have been registered against the batsman, because three strikeswould cause his retirement.

So far the descri tion deals only with such and guided by the stirrupI".

make a'safe hit, is charged with a foul, or strike, or be credited witha ball; but to enablethe batter to move a base on a onebase hit or atwo-base hit, 850., or permitting a base-runner to be advanced a base ona batsmans safe hitv or to be able to steal a base brings into operationcertain mechanism not heretofore set forth and which will now bedescribed.

To accomplish the objects above set out, I provide a diamond 20, whichis rectangular in shape and which is secured in a suitable manner to thebase 1. The diamond 20 is placed in the center of the field and is builton an incline, so that the home base, which is indicated by means of thevertical pin 25, is at the highest point thereof. From the home basethere is a gradual descent to the foot of the diamond, which is beneaththe home base. First base is indicated by the pin 26, second base by thepin 27, and third base by the pin 28. The diamond 20 is provided withthe groove 30, formed in its surface to provide. a raceway for the ball40, employed by the player to denote the batsman. (See Fig. 1.)

A plurality of the pockets at the foot of the base 1 are provided withan aperture 45, that passes through said base. Levers mounted on theunder side of the base 1 engage the apertures" 45. The levers alsoengage the vertical'pins 25, 26, 27, and 28, which indicate the bases onthe diamond 20, and in case the object-ball 8 should drop into one ofthe pockets that are provided with an aperture the lever engagingtherewith would be actuated together with the cooperating levers. Thearrangement of these levers is such that a base-runner will be permittedto move as'many bases as the hit made by him is entitled. As anillustration, suppose the object-ball 8 should drop into the. pocket I,the main one-base-hit lever I would be actuated. This lever is pivotallymounted in the standard I, which is secured to the under side of thebase 1. The front end of the main lever I is bent to form a hook I, thatengages an aperture in the parallel counterlever 1 which is pivotallymounted in the standard I. The counter-lever I en ages thevertically-extending home-base-inuicating pin 25, which is movablymounted in The lever I is interposed between the main lever I and thepin 25, so as to impart sufficient'and proper movement to said pin.Thepin 25 when actuated is lowered until its upper end disappears belowthesurf ace of the diamond 20, thus permitting the players ball 40,which represents the batsman, to move to first base, at which point itsmovement is arrested by means of the pin 26, which represents firstbase. It may here be stated that had the object-hall dropped into thepocket H the main base-hit lever H would have i been actuated. Thislever is pivotally mounted in the standard H and terminates at itsforward end into a pin that engages an aperture in the cooperatingtransverse-extending lever H which is pivotally mounted in the standardHf. This lever enga es the pin 26, which represents first base, and whenactuated by the main lever H the pin 26 is lowered. Examining Fig. 5 itwill be seen that as the forward end of the main lever H is elevated theforward end of the counterlever I is also raised, and theother end,which engages the pin 25, will cause said pin to be lowered. The pins 25and 26, being lowered, will permit the ball 40 to move from home base tosecond base, at which point further movement is prevented by the pin27,that represents second base. The pin 26 is mounted in a stirrup H, whichis similarly constructed to the stirrup I, and, further, should theobjectball 8 have dropped into the pocket P instead of the pocket H themain three-base-hit lever P would have been actuated. This lever ispivotally mounted in the standard P and its forward end engages with thecooperating transverse-extending lever P. This, latter lever enga es thevertical pin 27, that represents secon base, causing said pin to belowered. The lever P also imparts movement to the intermediate lever X,that is pivotally mounted in the standard Y. The lever X engages thetransverse lever P at one end, while the other" end supports the ends ofthe levers I and H which engage the vertical pin- 25, that representshome base, and

the pin 26, that representsfirst base, so that these latter levers willbe actuated when the lever P is actuated. The pins 25, 26, and 27, beinglowered below the runwa r 30, will permit theball 40 to move from homebaseto third base, thuscrediting the player with a th'iee-base hit. Theball 40 will be arrested in its movement when reaching third base bythe/vertical pin28, that represents said base, and, further, supposingthe object-ball 8 should have dropped into the pocket J, the mainhome-run lever J would have'been actuated. This lever is pivotallymounted in the standard J 2 and at its forward/end engages thetransverse-extending lever J,which is pivotallyiliountcd in the"standard J The lever J engages and operates the vertical third-base pin28 at one end,,while its other end supports and actuates, first, theintermediate lever X, that extends and engages z the transverse lever P,which is capable of actuating the third-base pin 28; second, thetransverse leverll which'is associated with the main lever H to actuatethe first-base pin 26; third, the counter-lever I", which,associatedwith the main lever I, actuates the honiebas'e pin 25. Thus,if the object-ball ac tuates the main. lever J, then by the associatedlevers the pins 25, 26, 27, and 28 will be lowered, so as to permit theball 40 to which no reference has yet been made.

diamond 20 and the player will be credited with a home run. Attentionis'invited to the rema ning levers B, C, and O, that connectwith thepockets B, O, and O and to functions of these levers'are to assist inmaking plays peculiar to the game, and they will now be considered.

Supposing the object-ball 8 of the batsman dropped into the pocket C andat this time a succeeding batsman was occupying first base, secured byhim on his safe h1t,the main lever C would be actuated, and through itsengagement with the associated transverse-extending lever C that engagesthe first-base pin 26, the latter would be lowered, thus permitting therunner occu ying the base to move to second base. T e runner would becredited with a stolen base, while the batter would be charged with astrike. Again, suppose second base was occupied by a base-runner and thebatters object-ball 8 should drop into the pocket B The main lever B,together with its associated transverseextending lever B, which engagesthe secondbase pin 26, would be actuated, thus permitting thebase-runner to move to third base.

The base-runner in this instance, as in the former, would be creditedwith a stolen base while the batter this time would be credited with aball. The main lever O and its associated lever O, that engages thethird-base pin 28, if operated by the object-ball 8, would permit abase-runner occupying third base to move home, thus crediting the runnerwith a stolen base and charging the batter with a strike. V v

The various main levers and associated levers employed in my game aparatus are mounted so that the bulk of thei i weight will be on theside of the bearings op osite their raised ends in order to return andhold them in normal position after they have been operated.

Extending vertically through the raceway 30 of the diamond 20, midwaybetween the home base and. base No. 1, base No. 1 and base No. 2, andbetween base'No. 2 and base No. 3 are the pins 60, .61, and 62. Thesepins terminate in the movable rods 60, 61 and 62, whichare secured atone of their ends to the under side of the g me apparatus, while theother ends connect with the transverse eXtending-levers B C and 0 whichengage the base-indicating pins 26, 27, and 28. The object of thesepins, ,which are situated in the path traveled by the ball 40, is torevent two or more base-runners or balls 40 rom accumulating on one'base. Suppose the first player should secure a base-hit, his,

The

with the runner already occupying first base.v To prepare for such anemergency, I interpose the in 60 between home base and first base, so tat the second player's ball will engage said pin while moving to firstbase. The Weight of the ball 40 is sufficient to depress the pin 60, andas the pin is a part of the rod. 60", that engages the transverse leverC which is positively engaged with the vertical first-base pin 26 thelatter is also depressed. The ball 40, occupying first base isper'mittedto move to second base when the pin 26 is depressed. As soon as the ball40 has cleared the pin'60 it immediately rises, as does the connectedfirst-base pin -26. 'The distance between the home base and the firstbase is sufiicient to ermit-the pin 26 to resume its normal positionbefore the approaching ball 40 arrives. The pin 61 and its rod 61 andthe pin 62 and its rod" 62 perform similar functions between the basesNos. 1 and 2,

and Nos. 2 and 3. The rod 61 engages the transverse --lever B which iscapable of actuating the second-base pin 27 and'the rod 62, engages thetransverse lever 0 which is capjable of actuating the third-base pin 28.

0 pin or rod is necessary between third base and home base.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. A base-ball field, an inclinedrectangular-shaped raceway mounted within said field, movableplay-indicating devices adapted to movealong said inclined raceway,baseindicators forming stops for the playindicat ing devices, and meansfor removing said stops from the path of said play-indicating devices.

2. A base-ball field, an inclined raceway within said field, movableplay-indicating devices adapted to move along said raceway,base-indicating devices forming stops for the play-indicating devices,and means for removing said stops from the path of said playindica'tingdevices. I

3. A base-ball field, an inclined raceway within said field, movableplay-indicating devices adapted to move along said raceway,baseindicators forming stops for the playindicating devices, and meansfor simultaneously removing two .or more of said stops from t e path ofthe lay-indicating devices.

' 4. A base-ball fiel an inclined geometrically-shaped raceway havingfour straight sides mounted within said field, movable play-indicatingdevices adapted to move on said raceway, base-indicators forming stopsfor the play-indicating devices, and means for removing said stops fromthe path of said play-indieating devices.

5. A base-ball field, an inclined raceway forming the diamond withinsaid field, balls adapted to roll along the diamond and in said raceway,base-indicators forming ball-stops,

and means for removing said stops fromthe path of the balls.

61 A base-ball field, an inclined raceway forming the diamond Withinsaid field, playindicating devices adapted to move along said'raeeway,base-indicators forming stops for the play-indicating devices, pocketsformed'across the foot of the ball-field, and

movable actuators engaging both the pockets and base-indicators so thatthe latter may be operated from the former.

r 7. A base-ball field, an inclined raceway forming thediamond withinsaid field, playindicating balls adapted to roll alongsaid raceway,pockets formed across theioot of the ball-field, and movable actuatorsengaging both the pockets and base-indicators so thatthe latter may beoperated from the former q 8 .A base-ball field, an inclined racewayforming the diamond within said field, play indicating balls adapted toroll along said vraceway, baseindicators forming ballstops,

pockets formed across the foot of the ball.-

"field, deflecting-pins arranged in rows across the ball-field betweenthe raceway and peckets, and movable actuators engaging both the pocketsand base-indicators so that the latter may be operated from the former.

9. An inclined base-ball field, an inclined raceway Within said field,movable playeindicatiiig devices adapted to move along said raceway,movable base-indicators forming stops for the play-indicating devices,and means for actuating and removing said stops from the path of saidplay-indicating devices.

10. An inclined base-ball field, an inclined raceway within said field,movable play-indicating devices adapted to move along said raceway,base-indicators forming stops for the play-indicating devices, pocketsformed at the foot of the ball-field, and movable actuators engagingboth the pockets and baseindicators so that the latter may be operateding stops for the movable play-indicating devices, and means mountedbetween and consaas're necting with the base-indicators, said meansprojecting into the path of the movable play indicating devices cators.

13. Abase-ball field, an inclined racewa forming a diamond within saidfield, ba l adapted to move along said raceway, movable base-indicatingv pins passing transversely of said raceway and forming ballstops,ball-actuating means projecting into the path of the balls andinterposed between ball-stops, to actuate the latter.

. 14. A base-ball field, an inclined raceway forming a diamond Withinsaid field, balls;

adapted to' move along said raceway, movablebase-indicating pins formingstops forthe balls, movable actuators engaging the base-indicatingpins,' and a separable device traversing the ball-field and actuatingsaid movable actuators and base-pins.

15. In a game apparatusdescribed comprising a bounded field area, araceway having terminals in different horizontal planes within saidfield area, movable base-indica-v tors mounted at intervals along andtransto operate thebase indiversely-of said'raceway when occupyingnormal position, but susceptible tovmovement away from sai raceway, andmovable actuators engaging and operating said movable base-indicators.

116. In a game apparatus of the character described comprising aboundedifield area, a raceway having terminals in different horizontalplanes butin the same perpendicular plane within said. field area,movable baseindicators mounted at intervals along and transverselyofsaid raceway when occupying normal position, but susceptible to movementaway from said raceway, and movable actuators engaging and operatingsaid. movable base-indicators.

IOU

17. In a game apparatus of the character described comprising a boundedfield area, a raceway having terminals in different horizontal planesbut inthe same perpendicular plane within said field area, movablebaseindicators mounted at intervals along and transversely of saidraceway whenoccupying normal position,,but susceptible to movement awayfrom said raceway, and movable actuators engaging to simultaneouslyoperate one or more of the movable base-indicators.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 6th day of December, A. D. 1905.

EDWARD H. MILLER.

Witnesses:

F. W. WQERNER, J. A, MINTURN.

